PDRC sets up rally stage to stymie advance voting in Surat Thani

The Sunday Nation January 26, 2014 1:00 am

Leaders of People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) in Surat Thani began setting up a rally stage yesterday afternoon, in front of Police Provincial Bureau 8's Police Training Centre in Muang district. The police-training centre will be used as a polling station for advance voting today.

PDRC leaders said its guards would stay overnight at the stage to prepare for anti-government protesters who will gather at the polling station to rally against today's advance voting.

They said they would seal off all entrances and exits to the polling station, but would not destroy any property or prevent the police from performing their duty.

Meanwhile, PDRC protesters led by Somsong Srinok marched from Lat Phrao intersection to Prachaniwet School to prevent advance-election training.

They called on the school's management to stop the training and asked to enter the school to campaign against an election. Protesters threatened to force their way into the school, if they were not allowed in peacefully.

Some election officials left the school immediately, while others stayed on to observe the situation. Officials were allowed to leave without any repercussions.